Carlton Hotel

Attended a Wedding Banquet at the Carlton last friday and I must say we had a good time. The place was cosy, not to mention clean and beautifully decorated, cutleries were nice and shiny while the ambiance was nicely attuned to the uplifting spirits of a wedding, however the banquet service staff requires a bit more improvement.

The reception was just outside the banquet and doors don't open until 7 in which dinner started at 8 due to a massive jam and guest were delayed. The hall was laid full of tables and chairs with little walking spaces perhaps there are just too many guest yet the aisle was nicely lit with candles atop some glamorously white and pink arranged flowers leading up to the stage. Dinner started with the announcement from the emcees and the couple entered with a slow stroll on the aisle while the champagne popping and cake cutting were the regular events and were carried out smoothly. The manager, Don was a conscientious staff who made sure everything was on time and even gave proper briefing to the groom while making sure the hall was in a perfectly celebratory mood. Everything was more or less planned and executed in perfection.

The first dish arrived pretty soon after the walk in and subsequent dishes arrived pretty fast, though not piping hot yet is perfectly cooked and the portion was really generous. Most tables had left overs we observed and these are the few really yummy dishes they left some good memories.

1) Appetizer cold platter - the prawns are yummy, spring roll crispy, jelly fish crunchy and duck meat juicy

2) Steamed grouper - fish was big and loads of flesh, fresh and the sauce (HongKong soya sauce style) was balanced and light

3) Abalone with broccoli - The whole abalone you get was about the size of a quarter of my palm and was chewy with a savoury sauce.

4) Deep fried Chicken with an auspicious name which I couldn't recall: looked very much like a dried up chicken, skin is crispy and meat is tender, pretty yummy I must say

5) Fried Longevity noodles: I was half expecting my favourite EeFu noodles but it was not to be found, this noodles is also pretty yummy with plenty of stripped carrots and veg.

6) Dessert was a honey dew sago that has got nothing to rave about other than its sweet. Was half expecting something exotic but it turned out still a good ending to an almost perfect meal.

The food was pretty yummy, ingredients used fresh and overall ambience was good, though I find 4 banquet halls sharing a 5 cubicle ladies is a little bit of a long throw, perhaps there are other restrooms I didn't notice. Drinks were the regular tea, softdrink, red or white wine and of course beer.

Yar one thing I must mention. We were given a glass full of roses to sprinkle at the bride on her second entrance in which we were given special instructions by the staff 1) When to throw, 2) Not to aim at the couple's face, 3) Not to throw the glass holder.... HAHAHA! Very Entertaining I must say.